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City reverses decision to fire police captain Maale, but demotes him to officer and cuts half his pay

Former Police Captain Randy Maale, who was fired from the city two weeks ago but was given an opportunity to appeal the decision, will be returning to the department but with a steep demotion and hefty pay cut.

Maale

Maale, a 22-year veteran, was demoted three ranks, to officer, on Wednesday following several internal investigations that included a relationship with a subordinate and a party for on-duty officers.

He will earn about $73,000 as a topped-out officer. His base pay in 2011 was $109,000.

City Administrator Ed Mitchell said Maale provided examples of others in the force who broke rules but were not fired.

“I weighed a lot of factors in my decision,” Mitchell said.

Maale did not return calls for comment.

Mitchell also placed Maale on one-year probation, meaning he can be fired at the whim of the city for the next year.

Maale was recently suspended for a week after an internal investigation found that he had a relationship with a 25-year-old female officer who served under him. Maale, 42, is married.

But Mitchell said Maale was primarily demoted because of a separate internal investigation in which Maale was found to have hosted on-duty officers at a party.

There was also a third investigation that found Maale worked out with an injured officer, which is against department policy. The injured officer was the same officer he had the relationship with.

Before the demotion, Maale was one of the top ranking officials in the West Palm Beach Police Department. He ran the Entertainment District Unit, which includes Clematis Street and the waterfront.

Police union treasurer Lou Penque said he’s unsure what action the union take, but he said Maale will have no choice but to accept the demotion.

“He will be on road patrol,” Penque said.

Maale made a surprise appearance at Monday’s commission meeting to discuss a new permit that will be required for late night alcohol sales in the downtown area. Maale, who often presented to commissioners, will no longer have the same influential role in the city.

Penque said he doesn’t believe a captain was ever demoted to officer in West Palm Beach.

“In my 24 years being here, I never even recall a captain being disciplined,” Penque said.